Allahabad, one of the largest cities of Uttar Pradesh’ is a city of many dimensions. It is a place of mythological importance and archaeological richness which has been attracting millions of peoples to visit Allahabad. The splendor of the rivers Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati has made this city famous. Allahabad is steeped in mythology of Prayag, also called Triveni or Sangam. Prayag is the confluence of the rivers Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati.
Mythology has it that Lord Brahma, the creator of the universe’ chose Allahabad for Prakrishta Yajna. He also foresaw the sanctity of the place and accordingly named it ‘Tirth Raj’ or the king of all pilgrimage places.
The Maha Kumbh takes place every twelve years, and the last one, held in 2013, attracted more than 120 million people on the main bathing day, breaking all records for biggest human gatherings. Apart from the Maha Kumbh, Ardh Kumbh is also held after every six years. An annual Magh Mela is also held at the Sangam areas in the month of January, when people braving the bone-chilling cold take a dip in the holy waters to absolve their sins. Allahabad tourism sees a boost during the Kumbh.
Over the period Allahabad has played an important role in defining the religious, cultural, and historical ethos of India and has several famous people and scholars to its credit including Mahadevi Verma, Harivansh Rai Bachhan,Motilal Nehru, Jawahar Lal Nehru, Murli Manohar Joshi, Amitabh bachhan, Ex Chief Justice Markandey katju, Mohammed Kaif, Danish Murtaza and several others.
Allahabad tourism has lots to offer a discerning tourist. Tourist places in Allahabad include temples, forts, universities etc. Being a major pilgrimage centre, Allahabad is home to several famous temples including Patalpuri Temple, Hanuman Temple, Bade Hanuman Temple, Shivkoti Mahadev, Temple, Alopi Devi Temple, Kalyani Devi Temple, Mankameshwar Temple, Nag Vasuki Temple, and Benimadhav Temple.
Anand Bhawan, the ancestral home of Jawahar Lal Nehru, which served as the headquarters for political leaders during India’s freedom movement. The city also has several relics from the British and Mughal era including the Allahabad Fort, Minto Park, and Alfred Park, one of the largest green spaces in the city, the Thornhill Mayne Memorial, and Khusro Bagh, a walled Mughal Garden.
Allahabad is also one of India’s leading centres for learning. The Allahabad University is one of the oldest English language universities in India. The university was initiated by Sir William Muir, and the city also has a college Muir College named after him. Ewing Christian College is another prestigious centre of learning. The city also has the Allahabad Public Library.
Allahabad is also home to the Jawahar Planetarium where you can view the solar system and the stars. Also worth a mention is the Allahabad High Court, which was one of the first high courts to be established in India.
Besides this, Allahabad has become an education hub as students from all over the world come in large numbers for further studies.
Some major Educational Institutions:
*Allahabad University.
*Indian Institute Of Information Technology.
*Motilal Nehru National Institute Of Technology.
*Sam Higginbottom Institute of Agriculture Technology and Sciences.